It started in 2000 as a way for the Twin Cities musicians who played on Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks” album to get some local recognition. It has evolved into an annual summer salute to Dylan’s music by a bunch of Minnesota music long-timers that doubles as a benefit for Guitars for Vets, a Milwaukee nonprofit helping veterans suffering from PTSD. One of those Dylan stalwarts and organizers, singer-songwriter Billy Hallquist, is battling colon cancer. His friends have set up a Give Forward campaign, http://gfwd.at/1zuj6Da, and will pay tribute to Hallquist on July 29 at Town Green in Maple Grove and Aug. 1 at Wolfe Amphitheater in St. Louis Park. Kevin Odegard, Gary Lopac, Bobby Z, Jeff Dayton, Patty Peterson, Mary Jane Alm, Lonnie Knight and others are hoping Hallquist will be strong enough to join them.

For the seventh year, some of the Twin Cities’ top musicians will gather for free outdoor concerts featuring the music of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Minnesota native Bob Dylan. Each year’s events have evolved and grown, and this year is no different.

BACKGROUND

In 1974 Bob Dylan recorded his seminal album “Blood on the Tracks” in New York and then re-recorded five tracks in Minneapolis using local musicians. The story of the making of “Blood on the Tracks” is told in the book A Simple Twist of Fate: Bob Dylan and the Making of “Blood on the Tracks” by Andy Gill and Kevin Odegard. The Minneapolis musicians first reunited at Dylan’s 60th birthday celebration at First Avenue in 2000 and a sold-out performance at the Pantages Theater in 2004. In 2005 the studio band was inducted into the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame.

In 2009 Odegard organized the first free “Blood on the Tracks Live” event in St. Louis Park, featuring several of the members of the band performing songs from the album. Throughout the years numerous local musicians have joined "the family," giving the show a constantly changing look and sound. The band has evolved into a Dylan tribute band, not restricting songs to any one album. The Maple Grove venue was added in 2011.

Each year these shows were phenomenally successful, drawing up to 6,000. In 2012 Odegard handed the organizational reins to longtime friend and fellow musician Billy Hallquist, it was also the last year that Odegard, the last remaining member of the Blood on the Tracks band to be involved, left the group, and the event was renamed “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” in 2013. The 2014 event featured violinist Scarlet Rivera, who toured with Dylan and appeared on several tracks, spectacularly notable on “Hurricane.” This year will feature a classic lineup of some of Bob's best known songs to celebrate 15 years of honoring these uncredited but extremely talented musicians.

GUITARS FOR VETS

In 2010 the show began to raise support and awareness of Guitars for Vets, a national organization dedicated to serving veterans who face challenges due to post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Participants receive basic music instruction and, upon completion of the program, a guitar of their own. Cash donations and guitars are collected at the concerts for the G4V organization, and G4V merchandise is for sale as well. Information about this organization can be found at guitarsforvets.org. Over the years many thousands of dollars have been collected at the Dylan tribute concerts for G4V.

A TRIBUTE TO BILLY HALLQUIST

After a brief set of songs by Jeff Dayton, this year’s shows will begin with performances of original songs written by Billy Hallquist. Hallquist has acted as organizer, bandleader, publicist, guitarist, and singer at these shows, and is the glue that holds them together. In late 2014 he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and braced for a second fight for his life, having survived polio as a child. Even while undergoing chemotherapy, he continued to organize the 2015 summer concerts, including two additional concerts featuring “Minnesota Legends” groups Jokers Wild, Thundertree, and the Litter. A fund has been set up to offset some of Billy’s medical expenses, and donations will be accepted at the Dylan concerts. Billy is a much-loved fixture in the Minnesota musical community; he was a member of Thundertree and the K.O. Band, and has put out two of his own albums, “Persephone” and “Travelin’.” His son Dan is the producer of the 2015 Dylan concerts, and Kevin Odegard is back in the lineup.

Maple Grove: Parking is available on Main Street, at the Library parking lot, the Government Center, or Community Center

St. Louis Park: Please park at The Rec Center parking lot or the free lots at Excelsior and Grand. Performance may be canceled in case of inclement weather; please call (952) 924-2567 if weather appears questionable.

There are two free music events coming up on July 29 in Maple Grove, MN and August 1 in St. Louis Park, MN. These are a Tribute to Billy Hallquist and also the Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan. Billy is in a fight against cancer and he got these musicians together every year to play Dylan tunes and fundraising for a good cause. Now these great musicians will play for Billy and Bob.

For years Billy has played a central role in organizing musicians for free concerts to raise money for organizations like Guitars for Vets and the Armory Arts and Music Center. His musician friends are now wishing to give back to the man who gave so much. Everyone I have talked to who has been to these shows in years past says they are a great time. Certainly the Northland shows have been phenomenal.

Billy Hallquist, left, and Gary Lopac, right, perform a Dylan tune at a Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan concert Aug. 9, 2014, at Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in St. Louis Park. (Submitted photo by Neil Schloner)

For the seventh year, Twin Cities musicians will gather for an outdoor concert featuring the music of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Minnesota native Bob Dylan.

Following a July 29 event in Maple Grove, performers will gather again 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater in Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Drive in St. Louis Park.

There is no cost to attend.

In 1974 Bob, Dylan recorded his seminal album “Blood on the Tracks” in New York and then re-recorded five tracks in Minneapolis using local musicians. The story of the making of “Blood on the Tracks” is told in the book “A Simple Twist of Fate: Bob Dylan and the Making of ‘Blood on the Tracks’” by Andy Gill and Kevin Odegard. The Minneapolis-area musicians first reunited at Dylan’s 60th birthday celebration at First Avenue in 2000 and a sold-out performance at the Pantages Theater in 2004. In 2005 the studio band was inducted into the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame.

In 2009, Odegard organized the first “Blood on the Tracks Live” event in St. Louis Park, featuring several of the members of the band performing songs from the album. Throughout the years numerous local musicians have joined “the family,” giving the show a constantly changing look and sound. The band has evolved into a Dylan tribute band, not restricting songs to any one album. The Maple Grove venue was added in 2011.

Each year these shows attracted up to 6,000 audience members. In 2012, Odegard handed the organizational reins to longtime friend and fellow musician Billy Hallquist. It was also the last year that Odegard, the last remaining member of the “Blood on the Tracks” band to be involved, left the group, and the event was renamed “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” in 2013. The 2014 event featured violinist Scarlet Rivera, who toured with Dylan and appeared on several tracks, notably on “Hurricane.” This year will feature a classic lineup of some of Bob’s best known songs to celebrate 15 years of honoring these uncredited but talented musicians.

Guitars for Vets

In 2010 the show began to raise support and awareness of Guitars for Vets, a national organization dedicated to serving veterans who face challenges due to post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Participants receive basic music instruction and, upon completion of the program, a guitar of their own. Cash donations and guitars are collected at the concerts for the organization, and Guitars for Vets merchandise is for sale as well. Information about this organization can be found at guitarsforvets.org. Over the years, thousands of dollars have been collected at the Dylan tribute concerts for Guitars for Vets.

Tribute to Billy Hallquist

After a brief set of songs by Jeff Dayton, this year’s shows will begin with performances of original songs written by Hallquist.

He has acted as organizer, bandleader, publicist, guitarist and singer at these shows. In late 2014, he was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer, and braced for a second fight for his life, having survived polio as a child.

Even while undergoing chemotherapy, he continued to organize the 2015 summer concerts, including two additional concerts featuring “Minnesota Legends” groups Jokers Wild, Thundertree, and the Litter. A fund has been set up to offset some of Billy’s medical expenses.. Hallquist was a member of Thundertree and the K.O. Band, and he has put out two of his own albums, “Persephone” and “Travelin’.” His son, Dan Hallquist, is the producer of the 2015 Dylan concerts, and Odegard is back in the lineup.

Parking is available at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center lot or at Excelsior and Grand ramps. The performance may be canceled in case of inclement weather; call 952-924-2567 if weather appears questionable.

More information is available at the “Billy Hallquist Fans” and “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” pages on Facebook or by calling Dan Hallquist at 651-246-1552 or dan_hallquist@yahoo.com.

William Dean Hallquist (Billy) was born on October 19th, 1949 in Sioux Fall, South Dakota. In 1951, He was stricken with Polio, but survived after several months in the hospital. His family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1962. Billy graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1967 and briefly attended the University of Minnesota. He withdrew from college to pursue a career in music.

Like most teenagers, Billy was swept up in the Beatlemania phenomenon of the early '60s. Formed in 1965, his first band, The Transgressors, played the usual high school dances, talent shows and teen clubs of the day. His next group, The Other Guys, began to add original material to their repertoire of Beatles, Stones, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Animals, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Tommy James and other Top 40 hits.

This period was followed by Roulette Records recording artists Thundertree which released their self titled album in 1970. His first solo album, Persephone (1972) attracted loyal fans who have followed Billy's work to the present day. A brief yet productive tour with his Hallquist-Odegard Band led to his next acclaimed LP, Travelin' (1976), garnering wide radio airplay and solidifying Billy's fan base. Alongside an active career as a music industry executive, Billy has dedicated much of the last 40 years to touring with The KO Band, Cimmarron, Macavity, Perfectly Loud, Blood On The Tracks Live, The Three Amigos, The LA Rod & Reel Club, Dirt Farmers, Deja Blue, Chrome Horse Diplomats, leading up to the MN Legends and A Salute To The Music Of Bob Dylan right here tonight. Billy Hallquist has written and performed his own intimate, often humorous brand of autobiographical sketches in song and blog for all to enjoy on Facebook and YouTube. Here is a sample of one of my favorites! (Billy The Kid) As a concert organizer his work supporting the goals of Guitars For Vets nonprofit organization stands among his many contributions to the community. Of them he recently said "They put the healing power of music in the hands of heroes. I can not think of a greater calling."

It warms our hearts for these artists to be able to sing Billy's songs and give something back to a man who has done so much for all of us with his friendship, support and one of a kind spirit!

Our opening act was added to this show after their Winnebago broke down in the Moondance Festival floods last week and they couldn't get back to Arkansas.Without further ado I would like to bring out now:

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome The Lonesome Travelers with A TRIBUTE TO BILLY HALLQUIST!

"I enjoy performing now as much, or more, than I ever did when I was doing it for a living" Billy often repeats to anyone who will listen. "I can't stand the booking end of the music business. I never had a desire to promote myself, which is an absolute necessity. But, if somebody asks me to play, I'll be there."CD Liner-notes for Persephone

Billy Hallquist, longtime organizer of the “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan,” enjoys the show Aug. 1. Hallquist is battling concert, but the grinning musician was undeterred from making it on to a full stage to sing along in a closing number. Participants dubbed this year’s shows in St. Louis Park and Maple Grove “A Tribute to Billy Hallquist.” (Sun Sailor staff photo by Seth Rowe)

Kevin Odegard, who played with Bob Dylan on the 1974 album “Blood on the Tracks,” rocks out to a Dylan tune at the annual “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” Aug. 1 at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater in St. Louis Park. The event doubles as a fundraiser for Guitars for Vets, a national organization dedicated to serving veterans who face challenges due to post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. (Sun Sailor staff photo by Seth Rowe)

Percussionist Ralph Dacut plays the tambourine during the annual “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” Aug. 1 at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater in St. Louis Park. (Sun Sailor staff photo by Seth Rowe)

Kevin Odegard, right, sings and mans an electric guitar as Jeff Dayton, left, plays the acoustic guitar and Scott Sansby plays the drums during the annual “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” Aug. 1 at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater in St. Louis Park. (Sun Sailor staff photo by Seth Rowe)

Two girls danced to the music of Bob Dylan Aug. 1 at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater in St. Louis Park. (Sun Sailor staff photo by Seth Rowe)

Keyboardist Matt Fink, known as Doctor Fink when he performed with Prince and The Revolution, plays a Bob Dylan tune during a tribute to Billy Hallquist, longtime organizer of the “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” annual concerts at the Aug. 1 event in St. Louis Park. (Sun Sailor staff photo by Seth Rowe)

Kevin Odegard pretends to be shocked during a concert featuring the music of Bob Dylan. (Sun Sailor staff photo by Seth Rowe)

A plethora of musicians paid tribute to the music of Bob Dylan and Billy Hallquist, organizer of the annual “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” concerts, Aug. 1 at St. Louis Park’s Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater

For years, the annual summer gathering at Wolfe Park in St. Louis Park has been to celebrate the music of Bob Dylan. But on Saturday, two dozen Twin Cities musicians were not just celebrating Dylan’s tunes but also the music and work of Billy Hall­quist. An organizer of this long-standing event, the St. Paul singer-songwriter is battling colon cancer. His pals not only interpreted his songs for a few thousand concertgoers but was saluted for raising $35,000 the past five years for Guitars for Vets, a national nonprofit that gives guitars and lessons to veterans. That Milwaukee-based organization gave Hallquist a “gold record” on Saturday to commemorate his service. “I have a feeling it will go on,” he said when accepting the award. “The good Lord willing, I plan to be here next year. But you never know when you’re gonna get hit by a bus.”

The times have changed for summer concerts in St. Louis Park and Maple Grove after the Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan came to a close following the death of organizer, Billy Hallquist, last year.

A few of the numerous musicians who participated in the annual nod to one of Minnesota’s greatest songwriters have performed concerts this year of their own music, though.

For example, musician Jeff Dayton performed in St. Louis Park and Maple Grove in July. Fellow Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan alum Barbara Meyer played in St. Louis Park in June, and St. Louis Park resident Dan Israel is hosting his second annual Dan Israel and Friends concert 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in St. Louis Park’s Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Drive.

Beginnings as a reunion

The Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan had its roots in a 2001 reunion at First Avenue of most of the Minnesota musicians who played with Bob Dylan on his album “Blood on the Tracks.” The reunion organized by Paul Metsa – who, like Dylan, grew up on the Iron Range – celebrated Dylan’s 60th birthday that year. Metsa wrote that he had the idea after an invitation to play a Dylan tribute event in Turkey.

“Although an all-expenses-paid trip to Istanbul to play Dylan tunes, and some of my own, to the Turkish faithful of His Bobness sounded like a hallucination worth having, I reconsidered,” Metsa wrote in 2001 for On the Tracks Magazine. “Two martinis and a half a pack of Marlboro Reds later, it seemed obvious that Minneapolis owed its favorite folkie son a birthday tribute of the highest and swingingest order.”

Later reunions took place in later years in places like the Medina Entertainment Center, Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing and the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis. The Pantages show, which included all of the Minnesota “Blood on the Tracks” session players, coincided with the release of the book “A Simple Twist of Fate” in which guitarist Kevin Odegard discussed his experiences with Dylan while recording the album.

Of the Pantages show, Odegard said, “That was the one that really thrust us forward.”

In addition to Minnesota musicians, reunion organizers brought in Mary Lee Kortes, a New York musician who had covered the “Blood on the Tracks” album. Eric Weissberg, who played with Dylan in New York on an initial recording, also came to St. Louis Park for the Dylan tribute.

“He was the band leader for the New York sessions, most of which were scrapped on the released version of ‘Blood on the Tracks,’” Odegard said. “But having him on the stage with us in Minneapolis added an extra layer of professionalism. We had a great time.”

The reunion, called Blood on the Tracks Live at the time, came to St. Louis Park in 2009. By then, organizers had begun inviting musicians who did not play with Dylan to participate.

“We wanted to be more inclusive of the community,” Odegard said.

Dozens of performers played in the shows.

“We picked up people who were interested and who we were interested in hearing their interpretations of things,” Odegard said.

In 2010, the show began raising funds for Guitars for Vets, a Milwaukee-based organization that supports veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hallquist’s impact

Hallquist took over organizing the event in 2012 after Odegard said he had become engaged in his day job.

Hallquist brought the show to Maple Grove as well as St. Louis Park that year and following years. With the original Minnesota members of Dylan’s “Blood on Tracks” band moving away from the tribute, Hallquist changed the name of Blood on the Tracks Live to the Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan.

Hallquist’s health began deteriorating, though, Odegard said. He was diagnosed with cancer in late 2014. Last year, the Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan doubled as A Tribute to Billy Hallquist. Although weak, Hallquist came up on stage for the final St. Louis Park show in 2015. He died later that year.

“It began as a band reunion and ended up as a tribute to Billy, and we figured that was a great place to leave it in 2015 because Billy had done so much to keep it going after I left,” Odegard said.

While organizing the show, Hallquist had made a point to try to include the music community as much as possible and brought in Scarlet Rivera, a violinist who played for Dylan on his “Desire” album as well as on his Rolling Thunder Revue tour.

He added, “Billy was a wonderful showman – an impresario. That’s one of the words we anointed him with – our storyteller.”

Hallquist had presented the idea that the tribute could perform other songs other than “Blood on the Tracks” numbers, leading in 2011 to a focus on the Dylan album “Blonde on Blonde.”

Odegard said, “From there it took off, and everybody started digging for deep cuts and obscurities…. It really impressed on us on how huge the canon of Minnesota boy Robert Zimmerman was and will remain.”

Sometimes different musicians performed the same songs in different styles from year to year, Odegard noted.

“Some were done oddly, almost spoken word, some punky numbers,” Odegard said. “But the audience always seemed to like it.”

Hallquist brought the music community and the community-at-large together as one, Odegard said.

He added, “It wasn’t unusual to have 30 or more people on stage at once. Dreams came true with a veritable ‘who’s who’ of Minnesota and international musicians. Among the great talents that shared our stage were eight actual Dylan sidemen from his Columbia Records masterpieces ‘Blood on the Tracks’ and ‘Desire.’”

While he called the series of shows terrific, Odegard said, “It was time to end it. You couldn’t top it. You couldn’t top what Billy had done. There was no way.”

Many of the musicians who participated over the years expressed similar sentiments about Hallquist.

Asked to weigh in, Robert “Bobby Z” Rivkin – a drummer for Prince as well as at Dylan tributes – said simply, “I miss Billy. Not much else to say.”

Israel said of Hallquist, “More than missing the festival, we miss him. We miss Billy. It’s really kind of shocking that he’s gone. Every time I run into anybody who used to go to that thing, they’re stunned it’s not going on anymore.”

Dan Hallquist, who produced the 2015 tributes for his father, said, “I have a special place in my heart for those times and people. It was a concert that my dad, Billy Hallquist, planned his life around. STTMBD (as my dad referred to it in writing) had a loyal following with many familiar faces in the crowd every year. The show evolved over the years and became something more than just a concert. The memories and relationships from the past summers will always be remembered.”

Steve Grossman, who is among the musicians from the event who is participating in Dan Israel and Friends Aug. 6, said, “It was such a beautiful event that became the highlight of each summer. Every day I run into someone who asks me when the show is this year, and sadly I have to tell them ‘not happening.’”

Grossman said he feels fortunate that local legends like Odegard and Hallquist included him in the show.

“It really was a ton of work for them, coordinating all the musicians and logistics,” Grossman said. “Last year’s emotional show with Billy on stage for the last time was hard to top, but hoping someday soon we can do a reunion to keep his amazing spirit alive.”

Efforts rewarded

After naming a lengthy list of musicians who performed in the tributes, Odegard said, “For a small group of lifelong friends to play with so many of our heroes was a dream come true. Our 1975 band never really disbanded. I have known some of these people for 45 or more years. We checked off dozens of wishes on our bucket lists over fifteen years of shows.”

Marc Percansky, who served as the master of ceremonies for the tributes, noted one performer told him that he did not usually have a chance to perform in front of 3,000 people, and that even playing a song or two had been a thrill for him every time.

“As for me, I will certainly miss the shows as much as anybody,” Percansky said. “They were summer highlights for me, too. I put a lot of work and effort into them.”

The tributes required months of planning and preparation, noted Percansky, who Odegard called “our hero who kept the trains running on time.”

Percansky said, “With our show last year, I felt we went to the top of the mountain. I am proud of what we accomplished, the money that was raised for Guitars For Vets, all the friendships that were made and the great songs that were sung! Bob is an iconic artist along with Prince, and I am glad that we all shared in celebrating his music over the past seven years.”

Ideas for the future

Percansky suggested the concert could return next year in another shape and form.

“It will never be the same without my compadre Billy Hallquist and nothing lasts forever,” Percansky said. “It will just be different.”

Odegard said he and drummer Stan Kipper are considering creating a show in the future.

“We’re going to put something together that we hope will appeal to that same audience, but it probably is not going to include more than one or two Dylan tunes,” Odegard said.

However, Israel said he has had thoughts of putting together a Dylan tribute band of his own that would perform more regularly.

“It wouldn’t be as collaborative,” Israel said. “It wouldn’t be like a million different guests. I think we can safely say that was a unique thing that unfortunately may never come back the same way.”

The Dan Israel and Friends concert Aug. 6 will feature Israel, Katy Vernon, Martin Devaney and “Baby” Grant Johnson. Grossman and fellow tribute alum Jeff Victor are slated to play songs with Israel at the end of the show.

Israel said the tribute shows helped inspire his event.

“Unfortunately, those are no longer, but I wanted to keep doing something there,” said Israel, who lives so close to Wolfe Park that he said it is basically his backyard.

“I’m looking forward to my little folk fest again,” Israel said. “It’ll be fun. I hope people show up. If they do, hopefully, I’ll have a chance to do it again.”